Cops and robbers aside, Mayor Gavin Newsom'schoice of George Gascónas San Francisco's top cop is a marriage made in political heaven.

And like most political marriages, the coupling of Newsom and Gascon serves the needs and ambitions of both parties.

For starters, Gascón is both Latino and from Los Angeles, two pluses for Newsom's 2010 gubernatorial ambitions.

Two, Gascón was willing to take the job without a contract, which meant Newsom didn't have to go through the Board of Supervisors - which is always a tricky proposition for this mayor.

Not being held to a contract also works well for the up-and-coming Gascón. He is already being mentioned as a possible successor to Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, so he'll be free to go if that door opens.

The prospect of a new chief staying only two or three years also helps Newsom with San Francisco's cops, by sending the message to the internal candidates for chief who were passed over this time that they may soon get another chance - if they play ball.

Add in that Gascón is clearly media-savvy, big on high-tech police work, and articulate on the hot-button issues of sanctuary for illegal immigrants and racial profiling - and you have the perfect political mate for Newsom, both at home in San Francisco and on the road to Sacramento.

Garden party: First lady Michelle Obama'sBayview park cleanup Monday is definitely the hottest ticket in town - but it appears the house is already full.

When the call first went out for volunteers to help California first lady Maria Shriverbuild a playground at Bret Harte Elementary School and clean up a neighboring park, there was no mention of Obama coming.

By the time word got out, some 200 real volunteers had already signed up, leaving no room for the star chasers.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, will, of course, be on hand. It will be interesting to see who else manages to squeeze in.

Security costs for the event are bound to be through the roof, but at least we don't have to worry about overtime for city workers to make the place picture perfect.

As acting Rec and Park head Jared Blumenthalnoted, "This is one time when cleaning up the place up is the event."

Gay old time: For the first time in years, the state Assembly is planning a floor session Monday to honor gays.

"It's been awhile, because last time we did it, some of the Republicans walked out in protest and everyone got upset," said Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco.

This time, Ammiano is trying to make it easier for the Republicans by scheduling the event at the very start of the session - thus giving them the option of skipping the show rather than walking out.

"Even then, some of them are nervous," Ammiano said. "They've been coming up to me all week to make sure it is going to be 'tasteful' - no T &A."

No need to worry, he says.

"For crying out loud," Ammiano said, "some of the people we are honoring are 80 years old!"

"Every supervisor's office creates hundreds of proclamations, and particularly during the Chinese New Year," Chiu said when reminded of the proclamation he issued to Chow and his Chee Kung Tong back in March.

"If my office knew then what we know, we would not have made the proclamation," Chiu said.

And it wasn't the first time Chow has been recognized by the city.

Back in 2006 - just months after Chow had come under police scrutiny in the shooting death of then-Chee Kung Tong leader Allen Leung- he received a City Hall proclamation from then-Supervisor (and now state Assemblywoman) Fiona Ma for his community work.

Chow, who was never arrested in the Leung case and says he has abandoned the thug life, called Chiu's proclamation skin-back "very unfair."

"I'm not the kind of guy he should use as a scapegoat," he said. "Anyone can put the blame on me and get ahead."

Making the grade: Former Gov. Gray Davisserved up some interesting life lessons during his recent commencement address at Columbia Law School.

"Shortly before I graduated," Davis said, "a professor wished us well and told us that he expected big things from us. He told us that:

" 'A' students would become Supreme Court justices, 'B' students would work for powerhouse Wall Street firms, and 'C' students would become presidents of the United States, U.S. senators or governors.